Machine for making weatherproof nails



Dec. 24, 1940. R. B. DICKSON 2,225,738

MACHINE FOR MAKING WEATHERPROOF. NAILS Filed April 15, 1940 4 Shets-Sheet 1 Dec.24, 1940. B DI KSON 2,225,738

MACHINE FOR MAKING WEATHERPROOF NAILS Filed April 15, 1940- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 24, 1940. R, DICKSQN 1 2,225,738

MACHINE FOR MAKING WEATHERPROOF NAILS Filed April 13, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 24, 1940.

B. DICKSON MACHINE FOR MAKING WEATHERPROOF NAILS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 15 m mm umm QTmmm Q Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE. FOR MAKING WEATHERPROOF NAIL Application April13, 1940, Serial No. 329,510

17 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for making weatherproof nails and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The term Weatherproof nails as used herein means nails, each with a cap of softer metal, such as lead, surrounding the head of the nail blank from which the weatherproof nails are made. A

The present invention is concerned generally with machines for the purpose of the kind shown and described in the United States Letters Patent No. 1,827,566 of October 13, 1931, granted to George E. Dickson. The machine of that patent, however, in making weatherproof nails, required the use of special nail blanks, each formed with an annular shoulder under the head. The cap formed on the head of such a nail extended to, but not below, the annular shoulder, and therefore stopped short of the shank of the nail.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a machine for producing a weatherproof nail having a portion of the cap material disposed to surround the shank of the nail just under the head whereby a. better sealing action is afforded by the finished nail in the hole through which it is driven.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for this purpose that does not require the use of special nails but operates upon conventional or stock substantially flat head wire nails to provide a cap thereon having a portion disposed to surround that part of the shank just under the head of the nail.

A further object of the invention is to provide amachine of this kind which produces a cup-like cap blank "from a mass of metal such as lead and then applies the blank to the head of an ordinary wire nail to form a cap thereon which encloses said head and surrounds theadjacent portion of the shank.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a machine of this kind which is simple in construction and is fast and trouble-free in operation.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a machine of this kind including a novel mechanism for transferring cup-like cap blanks from the dies in which they are formed, to the dies in which they are assembled in operative relation with the head of an ordinary wire nail to produce a cap thereon.

The above mentioned objects of the invention as well as others, together with the severaladvantages thereof will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

l is a vertical sectional view through a machine for making weatherproof nails and 5 embodying the invention, the plane of the section being taken on the line l[ of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the improved machine as taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through a part of the improved machine as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of those parts of the machine appearing in Fig. 3.

, Fig. 5 is a horizontal detail sectional view through a part of the machine as taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is also a horizontal detail sectional view, through a part of the machine, as taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view through a part of the nail feeding mechanism of the machine, as taken on theline l'| of Fig. 2 but on a scale enlarged over that of Fig. 2 and illustrates a nail as having been forced into its initial position with respect to its associated cap blank in one of the capping dies.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional viewon a scale larger than that of Fig. 7, as taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2 and illustrates the parts in the position they assume just before a certain ejector pin embodied in the machine is returned to its normal down position and just before the nail receives the final part of its movement to position the head of the nail Within the cap blank in the capping die.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 and shows the parts when the ejector pin has been returned to its normal down position in the cap blank forming die and the nail has received the final r cup-like blank, on an enlarged scale, made by certain parts of the machine and thereafter applied to the head of an ordinary wire nail by cer- 5i tain other parts of the machine to form a cap thereon.

Fig. 12 is a view in elevation of a weatherproof nail made by the improved machine on substantially the scale of Fig. 11, with the cap shown in vertical section.

In general, the improved machine as here shown comprises a step-by-step rotatable dial plate mounted on a suitable bed supported by the frame of the machine as a whole. In the peripheral margin of the dial plate are inner and outer annular rows of dies. The dies in the inner row coact with suitable punches to form masses of metal, softer than the nail, into cuplike cap blanks and are hereinafter referred to as blank forming dies. The dies in the outer row coact with suitable punches to form the blanks upon the nail heads as enclosing caps, therefor and are hereinafter referred to as capping dies.

Suitably mounted upon the bed are certain mechanisms which are disposed in different arcuate positions or stations about the dial plate to cooperate in performing the various steps or operations consecutively, from the feeding of masses of cap material to the blank-forming dies, to the ejecting of the capped nails from the capping dies. For ease in distinguishing the various mechanisms, their respective positions about the dial plate are indicated on Fig. 2 by brackets, each bearing a reference letter. In this instance, the position of the mechanism for feeding masses of lead to the blank forming dies is indicated at A; the position of the mechanism for forming the cap blanks and for capping the nails is indicated at B; the position of the mechanism for ejecting the finished capped nail is indicated at C; the position of the mechanism whereby formed cap blanks are transferred from the blank forming .dies to the capping dies is indicated at D; the position of the means for feeding nails to the blanks in the capping dies and for disposing them in the initial piercing position in said capping dies is indicated at E; and the position of the mechanism whereby the nails are disposed in their final position in the capping dies and the ejecting plungers of the blank forming dies, are returned to their initial position, is indicated at F.

The structure of the various mechanisms, will be described substantially in the order of their function, iii-the cycle of operation, it being understood that reference is hereby made to the before-mentioned Dickson patent, for those parts of the machine not described in detail herein.

The weatherproof nail produced byv the improved machirie and which nail best appears in Fig. 12, comprises a conventional or stock wire nail I0 and a weatherproof cap II of a metal softer than that of the nail. Lead is a metal well adapted for the purpose. The nail includes a shank l2 having a driving point [3 and a substantially round, fiat-top head M. The underside of said head, which is devoid of any annular shoulder formation, flares slightly from the shank to the periphery of the head.

The cap I I includes a crowned top wall or portion'l5 enclosing the top of the nail head and a peripheral portion l6 surrounding the periphery of the nail head. Said cap further includes a bottom portion l1 enclosing the bottom of the nail head and a collar l8 surrounding that portionof the shank adjacent and just under the head. The collar just mentioned is desirable in 'a weatherproof nail because when such a nail is driven through corrugated or ribbed sheet metal, said collar functions to seal the hole made by the shank of the nail in the sheet metal.

Referring now in detail to the construction of the machine embodying the invention and which is illustrated in the drawings and is capable of producing the Weatherproof nail above described, 20 indicates the suitable punch press-like frame of the machine. Said frame includes a bed plate 2|, at the rear side of which are laterally spaced upright left hand .and right hand side frame members 22-22. In the present instance the bed plate is shown as tilted downwardly, from the horizontal, toward its rear side.

A cross head 23 is positioned between and has sliding guided engagement on the side frame members 22 for a reciprocating movement to- The bed plate 2| is substantially rectangular in plan and supports a dial plate 24 capable of a step-by-step rotative movement about an axis as provided by a stub shaft 25 fixed in the bed plate.

Suitable means are associated with the upper end 9,.

of the stub shaft to engage the dial plate and hold it snugly down upon the bed plate.

In the periphery of the dial plate is a plurality of arcuately spaced notches or recesses 26. Disposed a short distance inwardly of the periphery of said dial plate are inner and outer circular rows of arcuately spaced openings 2'! and 28 respectively. Each opening 21 in the inner row receives and securely holds a die 29 hereinafter referred to'as a blank forming die. Each opening 28 in the outer row receives and securely holds a die 30 hereinafter referred to as a capping die.

Each die 29 has an axial open top cavity 3i therein. At the bottom of this cavity is a re cess 32 which communicates with the upper end of an axial bore 33 that opens through the bottom of the die. The bore has a diameter less than that of the recess so that the junction of the bore and die forms an annular shoulder 34.

Associated with and having a relative snug fit in the bore is the stem of an ejector pin 35, the top end of which is formed as a head 36 that normally seats in the recess 32 and engages upon the shoulder 34 for rigid support. pin 35 is of such length that when it is in its normal position, wherein the head 36 is seated inthe recess 32, the bottom end of the stem eX- tends below the bottom end of the die and into an annular groove 2la provided in the bed plate 21 for that purpose.

Each die 30 has an axial open top cavity 37 of substantially the same diameter as that of the cavity 3| in the die 29, the bottom of the cavity 31 being disposed substantially level with the bot tom of the cavity 3|. The die 30 has a bore 38 -which opens at its top end into the cavity 37! and opens at its bottom end through the bottom end of the die in line with an annular groove Zlb formed in the bed plate. The bore 38 is of a into the cavity by means of a flaring shoulder 39.

The ejector the bed plate.

In the present instance there is a pair of dies 23 associated with each pair of dies 30. Each die 29 and its asscciateddie 30 is arranged in a plane parallel with a radial plane passing between the dies 2929 and 3030 of said pairs of dies as best appears in Fig. 2.

In the left hand side of the bed plate 2| is a forwardly and rearwardly extending groove 40 in which reciprocates a slide bar 4|. This bar may be reciprocated by any suitable means such as for instance the means shown and described in the before-mentioned Dickson patent, The bar 4| carries a spring-pressed pivotal pawl 42, one end of which rides the periphery of the dial plate 24 so as to operatively engage in the recesses 26 therein. The throw or movement of said bar 4| is substantially the same as the spacing between the recesses 26 in the dial plate. Thus, in the movement of the bar 4| in one direction, the pawl 42 by reason of its engagement in one notch '26, turns the dial plate through an angle approximating the angle between adjacent notches 26. In the movement of the bar in the other direction, the pawl is retracted out of one notch and rides the periphery of the dial plate to reengage in the next notch 25.

At the right hand side of the bed plate, to-. wards its rear, there is pivoted a spring-pressed pawl 43 (see Fig. 2) which coacts with the notches 26 to hold the die plate against undesired movement in the opposite direction. Thus, it is apparent that for each complete reciprocation of the bar 4|, the dial plate is advanced or turned one step in its step-by-step rotative movement.

The mechanism at station A for feeding masses of capping metal to the blank forming dies 29 is disposed at the front of the machine, directly opposite the space between the frame members 22-22. At this point a bracket 44 is fixed to and projects horizontally from the front side of This bracket carries a strip-like plate, the rear end portion of which overhangs the circle of the cap blankforming dies In said rear end portion of said plat are holes 4646 (see Fig. 2), that register with the cavities 3|-3| in successive pairs of said dies 29, as said dies come to a stop at this point.

A slide 41 is mounted in the bracket 44 above the strip-like plate 45 for a reciprocating motion, as will later appear. This slide is formed with two holes 48-48 (see Figs. 1 and 2) which are spaced apart the same distance as the holes 46 in the plate 45. The holes 48 normally register with substantially upright feed tubes 49 supported by an upright bracket 50 fixed to the bracket 44 so as to straddle the plate 45 and slide 41. The top ends of said feed tubes are connected to a magazine (not shown) for holding a plurality of spherical masses or balls of capping metal, the tubes likewise being filled or loaded with said masses of capping metal as appears in Fig. 1.

The amount of movement of the slide 41 is equal to the distance between the axes of the feed tubes 49 and holes 46 respectively, and is produced as follows: At the bottom of the left hand side of the bracket 45 there is pivoted, as at 45a, a lever 45b having a long arm 450 that is connected by a link 4| a to the front end of the reciprocating bar 4|. Said lever includes a short arm 45d that normally engages with the rear side of a pin 45c fixed to the slide 41 but depending therefrom into a position below the bracket 44. The front end of said "slide 41 carries a block 41a and one end of a pair of contractile springs 41b is fixed to this block and another end of said pair of springs is fixed to the bracket 44.

When the lever 45b is swung in one direction move the slide 41 inwardly to a point wherein the openings 48 register with the openings 45 which In this position a ball direct the balls 5| into thecavities 3| of the respective cap blank forming dies 29. When said balls enter said cavities, they come to rest upon the bottom thereof as afforded by the top sur-r face of the head 36 of the associated ejector pins 35. Thus, the two dies 2929 stopping momentarily at station A are each charged or loaded with a mass of metal.

The cross head or ram 23 which as before mentioned has sliding guided engagement on the frame members 22 for reciprocating movement toward and away from the rear side of the bed plate 2| and the dial 24 thereon is located at station B. This cross head or ram carries two pairs of downwardly extending punches 23a and 2317 respectively. The punches 23a are disposed upon the circle of the capping dies 30 in the dial plate and the punches 23b are disposed on the circle of the blank forming dies 29 in said dial plate.

Each punch 23a is of a diameter snugly to fit the cavity 31 in a die 30 and has a concaved bottom end surface which provides the crowned top surface of that part l5 of a cap of the finished nail as appears in'Fig. 12. Each punch 232) has an upper portion 230 of a diameter snugly to fit the cavity 3| in a die 29, and a bottom end portion 23d of a diameter approximating that of the head of the nail. On the bottom end of this last mentioned portion is a relatively small axial boss 23c of shallow depth.

When a punch 23b in the downward movement of the ram 23, enters the cavity 3| in a die 29, in which a ball 5| of metal is disposed, its bottom end portions 23d-23e coact with the cavity in so displacing the metal of said ball as to form the same into a cup blank 52, best shown on an enlarged scale in perspective section in Fig. 11.

Such a blank includes an upstanding annularwall 52a and a bottom 52b. In the upper surface of said bottom is located a shallow depression or recess 520 so that the central portion of said bottom is formed as a relatively thin diaphragm 52d; The depression 520' is produced by the boss 23c of the punch 23b and the height of the cap blank is determined by the annular shoulder formed by the junction of the part 23d of the punch with the part 230 thereof. With this arrangement of the parts of the punch 23b, it will be seen that the soft capping metal forms a cushion'betweenthe parts of the punch and the die member 29 when the cup-like blank 52 is formed. Thus contact is prevented between certain of said parts, reducing the wear thereon and obtaining longer periods of usefulness for said parts.

At the station D is located the mechanism whereby the cup-like cap blanks 52, formed in:

' follows:

a pair or set of dies 29, are transferred to the associated pair of dies 39 and deposited in oper- 55 indicates an upstanding bracket that is fixed to the bed plate 2| adjacent the right hand frame member 22, between the stations C and E. In the upper end of said bracket is fixed a short horizontal. shaft 56. The bottom end of this bracket extends outwardly beyond the bed plate and journalled in said end of the bracket, in about the plane of the top surface of the bed plate, is a rock shaft 51. The purpose of these shafts 56 and 51 will soon appear.

On one side of the bracket 55 there is provided a lateral table 58 having an upwardly facing groove 59 therein in which a slide 59 is disposed for longitudinal movement. Bars 9| are carried by said table and overhang opposite sides of the slide to confine the same in the groove 59. This groove is so arranged that the longitudinal median line of the slide is disposed radially with respect to the axis of the dial plate 24 and the bottom surface of said groove is substantially flush with the top surface of the dies 29 and 39.

A blank shifter or transfer member 62 is pivoted to the inner end of the slide by a horizontally disposed pin 63. The inner end of said member 62 is widened out and is formed with laterally spaced, bushed openings 64. When the slide is in its inward position said openings 64 normally register with the cavities 3| in a pair 'of dies 29. When the slide 69 is in its outward position these openings 64 register with the cavities 3'! in a pair of dies 39. The openings 64 have a diameter approximating the outside diameter of a cap blank 52.

On the underside of the inner end of the member 62 is a pair of U-shaped shoulder portions 65, the bottom surface of which substantially bears upon the top surface of the dies 29 and a ring 86 flush therewith and carried by the dial.

The bearing pressure of this end of the member 62 is regulated by an eye bolt 61 carried by the inner end of the slide and extending up through the outer end of the shoe 62. That part of the eye bolt above the shoe 62 carries a spring 61a and a nut 68. By manipulating the nut 68 which appears best in Fig. 3, the desired bearing pressure may be imposed on the shoe.

As best shown in Fig. 6, the U-shaped shoulder is closed at its inner end and open at its outer end. Thus when the shoe is moved outwardly the inner end of said shoulder engages a blank 52, which has been ejected from a die 29 and moves it outwardly to register with the cavity 31 in the associated die 39. The outer end of the slide 69 carries a depending boss 69a in which an adjustable stop 69, in the form of a screw, is mounted to engage the outer end of the table 58 and thus limit the inward movement of the slide in the groove 59.

The inward movement of the slide 69 in its groove 59 is produced by a pair of springs 19 both fixed at the inner end to the table 58 and both fixed at the outer end to a transverse pin H carried by the outer end of the slide. This pin has one end of a link 12 connected thereto and the other end of said link is connected to the bottom end of a lever arm 14 that is rockably mounted atits top end on one end of the shaft 56 before mentioned. The inner edge of said lever arm is provided with a roller 140., the purpose of which will later appear.

'In' the bottom, of bed plate 24 is a recess" 15 which opens through the adjacent edge of the bed plate by a groove or channel 15a and a bell crank lever 16 is arranged in said recess, as appears in Fig.3. This bell crank lever is rockably mounted on a cross pin 11 supported at its ends in plugs lfl'that are located in suitable recesses at each side of the inner portion of the recess 15. Said bell crank lever includes a depending power arm l9to which the inner end of a connecting rod or link 88, disposed in the channel or groove 15a is operatively connected. The other arm 19a of the bell crank lever 16 is bifurcated and the ends thereof are made cylindrical and each engages in an opening in a plunger 8|. The two plungers al -8| aredisposed in cylindrical bores 82 provided in the bed plate, in the circle of the dies 29 and are so spaced apart on said circle as to register axially with the two dies 29 momentarily stopped atthis point. The plungers 8|8l are adapted to engage the two knock-out or ejector pins 35-35 ofthe dies 2929 so as to eject the blanks 52 from the bores 3| thereof. When said blanks have been so ejected, they are disposed in a position above or free from the dies so that they may be moved laterally by the shoulders 65 before mentioned, into a position to register withthe cavities 31 of the dies 30-38 momentarily stopped at this point.

The outerend of the connecting rod is operatively fixed to-the bottom end of an arm 83, the upper end of which is fixed to one end of the rock :shaft 57 before mentioned. A contractile spring 84 is fixed at one end to the edge of the bed plate and the other end is fixed to the pin whereby the link 80 is pivotally connected to the arm 83. The action of the "spring-84 is such as to'function through said rod 89 and swing the bell crank 16 clockwise as appears in Fig. 3 so that the plungers 8| normally occupy their lowermost position in the bores 82. Anupstanding arm 85 is connected to the other end of the rockshaft 51. A link 85 is connected at its outer end to said arm 85 and is connected at its inner end to the bottom end of the lower. arm 81, of a two arm lever 88. This lever, which is pivotally mounted toward its upper end on the pin or shaft56, before mentioned, also includes an upper arm 89 which supports a I roller 890:.

The roller 89a, along with theroller Ma before :mentioned, has a peripheral engagement with the associated edge ofa pair of cam bars 99 and 9| ,respectivelmsee Figs. 3 and 4. These cam bars are fixed to the opposite sides of a vertical flange 92a ona plunger head 92 which in turn is fixed to the cross head or ram 23 so as to reciprocate therewith. .The cam-bars 99 and 9|, which have an adjustable bolt and slot connection 93 .with

, the flange 92a, are each provided with high and low edgeportions 98a90b and Ma and 9| 1) respectively, for engagement by the rollers 89a and .Ma respectively. 7 I

The plunger head 92 carries a pair of tamping plungers 94 having lower end portions of such diameter as to fit withina blank 52 and said plungers are so disposed asto register with both The in. Thus each plunger 94 has a reduced diameter upper end portion 94a surrounded by a spring 95 disposed in the bore in said head in which each plunger engages. In the,v movement of the head 92, should the plungers94 meet an obstruction;

they may yield as ermitted by their associated springs. The function of these plungers is to tamp the blanks 52 into the cavities of the. dies- 30, stopped at this point, after said blanks have been transferred from the cavities of the dies 29 to a position registering with the cavities in the die members 30. The top end portions of the plungers 94 are provided with nuts 941) (see Fig. 4) whereby they may be adjusted to the stroke of the head and thus accurately tamp the blanks 52 into proper engagement upon the bottom of the cavities 31 of the dies 30.

In the operation of the parts above described. as the head 92 moves downwardly with the cross head or ram 23, the initial part of said movement link 89 and arm 85 the shaft 51 is rocked counter-.

clockwise (in Fig. 3) so that the arm 8-3 moves the connecting rod 80 outwardly and causes the bell crank I6 to swing counterclockwise. This causes the plungers M to move upwardly in the bores 52 to engage the bottom end of the ejector pins 35 and lift them upwardly so that the cap blanks 52 in the dies 29 at this point are moved upwardly a distance which brings the bottom of both blanks substantially flush with the top of the ies 29 and 30 and the top of the ring 66.

At this time the high part 9Ia of the cam bar 9! will engage the roller Mo on the lever I4 and swing it counterclockwise when viewed as in Fig. 3. This movement through the links 12 moves the slide 60 outwardly in its groove 58 against the action of the spring I0. As the shifter member or shoe 62 is connected to the slide, the shoulders 65 thereon move both blanks 52, ejected from the dies 29, into a position registering with the cavities 31 of the dies 30. The operation of the parts is so timed that as the blanks are brought into registering position with the cavities in the dies 3030, the plungers 94 pass through the openings 64 in the shoe 62 and engage the inside of the said blanks and tamp them into operative position upon the bottom of the cavities in the dies 30. g

The parts are held in this position in the initial part of the upward movement of the head 92 so that the plungers are first retracted from the cavities in the dies 30. At this time, the cam bars will move to that position wherein theywill permit the springs 10 and 84 to move the sl de 60 and rod 80 inwardly. This again positions the openings 64 in register with the cavities of the dies 29 and at the same time will return the plungers 8| to their lower position. It is pointed out at this time that the ejector pins 35 are left in the up position when the plungers 8I- are moved downwardly. Thus the pins 35 must be returned to their normal down? position in the dies 29 and this return is a portionof the function of the parts associated with the mechanism at station F as will later be described The nail feeding mechanism at the station E is substantially the same as that shown and described in the Dickson patent before referred to. It embodies a bracket 96 that is fixed tothe right hand side of the bed plate and overhangs the adjacent margin of the dial 24. Irregularly shaped castings 91 are fixed one on each side of the inner end of the bracket. In the outer side of each casting is a chamber 98 in which is located a. pair of coacting pivotal nail holding fingers or members 99 and I00 respectively normally urged toward each other by springs I 0I-,IOI.

The fingers of each casting 9'! coact to yieldingly hold a nail fed to it by a feed tube I02 that opens into the chamber 98 of each casting toward the top of the open side of the chamber. The tubes I02 lead from a suitable hopper, which feeds the nails point down into each tube and which nails, when they leave the tube, enter point down between the nail holding fingers so that a nail is positioned axially above each die 30 having a blank 52 in itscavity.

Associated with each casting 91 is a plunger rod I03. {I'hese rods are arranged to register with the cavities 31 in the dies 30 and are aligned with each nail between said fingers 99I00 of each pair of such fingers. Each plunger has a sliding bearing near its bottom end in a bushing 91a at the top of the associated casting. Both rodsare operatively connected together and to the cross head 23 before mentioned in such a manner that said rods reciprocate vertically in timed relation with said cross head. Thus in the downward movement of the cross head 23, the rods I03 each descend and engage the head of the nailwhich is pushed downwardly and out from between the coacting fingers 99-I00, which yield'laterally to permit this movement of the nail. As each nail is forced downwardly by the rods, the pointed end thereof engages the thin portion of the bottom wall of the blanks 52 located inthe cavities of the dies 30. The plungers I03 move to such an extent that the nails pierce said bottom portion of the'blanks and leavethe heads thereof disposed at an elevation above the dies 30 but below the castings 91. When the nails have pierced the blanks as mentioned, parts of said thin portion of the said bottom walls of the blank are displaced laterally as a burr which forms itself into the collar I8 of the finished capped nail. a

When the nail is in this initial position with respect to the blank as appears in Fig. 7, the bottom thereof extends into the annular "slot or groove H17 in the bed plate. The grip of the cap material upon the shank of the nail in the forming of the burr before mentioned is sufficient to rigidly hold the nail in this position until it is driven downwardly again into its final position with respect to the cap blank at the station F. Simultaneously with this movement of the nails into, said final position, the ejector pins 35 of the two die members 29--29 are returned to their normal position by means constructed as follows:

An arm I05 (see Fig. 1) is fixed to and extends forwardly from the cross head or ram 23 toward the bracket 50 in which the feed tubes 49 are engaged.- On one side of the forward end of said arm there is fixed a depending bracket I06. A vertically disposed U-shapedclevis I0! is fixed to said bracket and extends somewhat diagonally toward the two pairs of dies 29 and 30 located at the station F. The clevis I01 comprises top and bottom extensions I08 and I09 respectively, in whichare mounted two sets of plunger rods H0 and III respectively.

The plungers I I0 are disposed in axial alignment with the cavities of the dies 29 and the plungers I I I are disposed in axial alignment with the cavities of the dies 30. The plunger rods I I0 and II I each has a spring H2 and H3 mounted thereon between a pair of lock nuts H4 and the top extension I98 of the bracket I07. Nuts H5 are mounted on the plungers above the top extension of that bracket.

As the plunger rods H0 and III are mounted as described, they of course will move up and down with the movement of the cross head 23.

In this movement of said plungers, the plungers heads of the nails are'disposed in engagement with the bottom of the blanks in said cavities. This position of the plungers best appears in Fig. 9.

It is pointed out at this time that the springs II2-I [3 are strong enough to resist that pressure necessary upon the part of the plungers to return the ejector pins 35 to their normal position and to impart the necessary final part of the movement of the nails as just above described. However, should a nail or a pin 35jamb in the associated die, then the springs II2--II3 1 will yield so that they move relatively to the clevis I91. Therefore breakage of parts for this reason is avoided. g

The finished capped nails are ejected from the machine at the station C by means described and shown only generally herein but described and shown in greater detail in the before-mentioned Dickson patent and to which reference is again made.

In the bed plate 2|, on the circle of the dies 30 and one step of movement removed from the plane of the capping punches 23a is located a pair of spring-pressed ejector plungers II5a, one of which appears in Fig. 1. The bottom ends of both plungers are connected to a cross bar I I 6 having a hardened button II! in its bottom side. This button is adapted to be engaged from below by the free end of an arm H8 fixed to a horizontal rockshaft II9, extending transversely'of the rear portion of the bed plate. This rockshaft, rocks in timed relation with the cross head 23 and rocks upwardly as the cross head rises. As saidarm H8 swings upwardly, it engages the button Ill and through the member II6 causes both plungers I I 5a to move upwardly and engage the pointed end of the nails just capped so that said nails are partially ejected to a position wherein their capped heads II are disposed at an elevation above the top of the associated die members.

On the bottom of the'cross head, to the right hand side of the plungers 23a and 23b is pivotally mounted two pairs of coacting nail cap gripping fingers I2ll-I29. After the dial plate 24 has moved one step from that position wherein the nails are capped and the blanks are formedat station B; the fingers I20 grasp the capped, heads of the nails to Withdraw them from the die 30 and deposit them in a chuteIZI which delivers the finished capped nails toward the rear of the machine and usually into containers (not shown) to catch the same.

When the machine is in operation and considering the blank forming dies 29, each one of them, from station A to station B will contain a mass SI of cap metal and which mass is formed into a cap blank at the latter station. Each die 29 from station B to station D will contain a cap blank, the blanks being transferred to the associated dies 39-33 at this point? From station D back to station A, each die 29 is empty, the ejector pins 35 being returned to their normal position in the dies 29 at station F. Then said dies will be in proper condition to again receive the masses of cap metal when they again reach station A. Considering the dies 30, they are empty from station C to station E, where the nails are fed point down into the dies 39 to pierce the cap blanks 52 in their initial position in the dies and which position appears in Fig. '7.

The nails maintain this position until station F is reached, at which station they are driven home, fully into the cap blanks as appears in Fig. 9. The nails remain in this position in their dies 30 until said dies reach station B where the plungers 23a form that part of the cap blank above the nails heads, into the tops of the finished caps. At this station the nails are partially ejected from below and when they reach station C they are grasped from above to be pulled from the dies 39 and thereafter discharged from the machine.

Thus in the operation of the machine the dial plate is caused to rotate step-by-step clockwise in Fig. 2. When the associated loaded dies 29 and 39 reach the station E the punches 23a and 23b operate simultaneously, in their downward movement, to displace those circular wall parts of the cap blank 52 in the dies 39 at this station, into enclosing relation upon the top of the heads of the nails in said dies and to transform the masses of metal 5| in the dies 29 at this station into cap blanks 52.

As the two pairs of dies 29 and 39 just mentioned move into station C in the next step of the movement of the dial plate, the ejecting plungers H51]. in the down, stroke of the cross head or ram 23 eject the finished nails into a position wherein they may be gripped at the heads by the pairs of fingers I 29 which withdraw them upwardly from the dies 39 and discharge them into the chute I2I. The dies 35 of said two pairs of dies are. now empty.

As said two pairs of dies 29 and 39 move into position at station D, the blanks 52 are ejected from the dies 29 into a position above said dies at which time the slide 69 moves outwardly. In this movement of the slide, the shoulders 65 on the shoe 62 shift said blanks outwardly into registration with the cavities in the associated dies 39. At this time, the plungers 94 descend and tamp the blanks 52 home into position at the bottom of the cavities 31 in said dies. However, some of the ejector pins in the dies 29 just mentioned might stand in that position corresponding to the ejection position of the blanks.

As the said two pairs of dies 29 and 30 move into position at the station E, a nail I0 is fed into position between the two pairs of holding fingers 99 and I06, point down. When the two nails are so positioned, the plungers I93 descend and push the nails from out between the pairs of fingers 99-490 and into the cavities 31 of said dies 30 and then through the thin wall portion 52d of the blanks 52 therein, to a depth Wherein the headsof the nails are disposed a short distance above the top of the dies 30 but somewhat below the bottom of the castings 9'! as appears in Fig. '7.

After the second step of the movement of the dial plate 24, the said two pairs of dies 29 and 39 reach the station F. In the descent of the cross head 23, the plungers Ill] and I II operate simul taneously to drive the ejector pins 35 in the dies 29 back home into their normal position in said dies and. to drive the nails down into their final position in the blanks 52 in said dies and wherein the heads are disposed against the bottom of said blanks in said dies 30. This position of the parts appears in Fig. 9. The next step of the movement of the dial plate brings the two pairs of die members back to position A, which is the start of the next cycle of operation described. At this point other masses 5| of cap material are fed into the cavities of the two dies 29 of said two pairs of dies and the cycle of operation is then repeated.

It is apparent that the improved machine functions to produce cap blanks 52 in one annular row of dies, transfers them to the other row of dies and wherein nails are caused to pierce the blanks and form the shoulders of the finished caps. Thereafter the nails are arranged with their heads disposed within the bottom of the blanks after which the annular wall part of each blank is displaced inwardly to complete the cap. The finished capped nails are then discharged from the machine.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts involved, the same is to be considered only in'its' illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A nail head capping machine embodying therein a die member having a cavity therein, means for forming a mass of cap metal into a cup-like blank having an annular wall portion and an end portion closed at least'in part, means for transferring said blank from a part of said forming means to the cavity in said die member,

means for feeding a nailto said die member so that its head is disposed in said blank therein with one side of said nail head; engaged with said end portion and so that the periphery of said nail head is surrounded by a part of said annular wall portion, and means coacting with said die member for displacing the other part of said annular wall portion upon the other side fof said nail head to form an enclosing cap on said nail head.

2. A nail head capping machine embodying therein a die member having a cavity therein adapted to receive a mass of cap metal, means coacting with said die member for forming said mass of cap metal into a cup-like blank having an annular wall portion and an end portion closed at least in part, a second die member also having a cavity therein, means for transferring said blank from the cavity of the first die member to the cavity of the second die member, means for feeding a nail to the seconddie member so that its head is disposed in said blank therein with one side of said nail head engaged with said end portion and so that the periphery of said nail head is surrounded by a part of said annular wall portion, and means coacting with the cavity in said second die member for displacing the other part of said annular wall portion upon the other side of the nail head to form an enclosing cap on said nail head.

3. A nail head capping machine embodying therein a die member having a cavity therein", means for forming a mass of cap metal into a cup-like blank having an annular wall portion and an end portion closed at least in part, means for removing said blank from a part of said forming means and depositing the same, with said end portion down, in the cavity of said die member, means for feeding a nail point down into said cavity so as to cause said nail topass through said end portion and which nail is thereafter moved into a position wherein the bottom side of the head of the nail engages said end portion and the periphery of said nail head is surrounded by apart of said annular wall portion, and means coacting with said die member for displacing the other part of said annular wall portion upon the top side of the nail head to form an enclosing cap thereon.

4. A nail head capping machine embodying therein a die member having a cavity therein adapted to receive a mass of cap metal, means coacting with said die member for forming said mass of cap metal into a cup-like blank having an annular wall portion and an end portion closed at least in part, a second die member also having a cavity thereimmeans for removing said blank from the cavity of said first die member and for depositing the same with said end portion down, in the cavity of said second die member, means for feeding a nail point down into the open end of the blank in said cavity of the second die member so as to cause said nail to pass through said end portion and which nail is thereafter moved into a position wherein the bottom side of the head of said nail engages said portion and the periphery of said head is surrounded by a part of said annular wall portion, and means coacting with said second die member for displacing the other part of said skirt portion upon the top side of the nail head to form an enclosing cap thereon.

5. In a nail head capping machine, the combination of a die member having an open top cavity therein in which a cup-like cap blank is formed with an annular wall portion and a bottom end portion closed at least in part, a second die member having an open top cavity spaced laterally from said first die member and adapted to receive said blank, means for ejecting the blank from the cavity of said first die member, means for moving the ejected blank laterally into substantial alignment with the cavity in said second die member, and means for moving said blank into and toward the bottom of said cavity in said sec ond die member. 6. In a nail head capping machine, the combination of a die member having an open top cavity adapted to receive a mass of cap metal, means cooperating with said cavity for forming said mass of cap metal into a cup-like cap blank having an annular'wall portion and an end portion closed at least in part, a second die member having an open top cavity spaced laterally from said first die member, means for ejecting the blank upwardly and out of the cavity of the first die member, means for shifting the ejected blank lat erally into substantial alignment with the open top of the cavity in the second die member, and means for pushing said blank into the cavity of said second die member.

'7. A nail head capping machine embodying therein a set of movable cap blank forming dies each having an open top cavity, to receive a mass of cap metal, a punch associated with each die to cooperate therewith in transforming the mass of cap metal therein into a cup-like cap blank having an open top annular wall portion and an end portion closed at least in part, a second set of movable dies each having an open top cavity adaptedto receive a formed blank, and each associated with a die in the first set, means for transferring the formed cap from the cavity of each forming di-e intooperative position in the cavity in the associated die of the second set, means for feeding a nail into the blank in the cavity of each die of the second set so that its head is disposed in the cavity of said blank and one side of the nail head is engaged with the end closure portion of the blank and the periphery of said nail head is surrounded by a Part of said annular wall of the blank, means for moving said sets of dies in timed relation, a punch associated with each die of the second set of dies for displacing the other part of the annular Wall portion of each blank upon the other side oi said nail head to form an enclosing cap thereon, and means for imparting movement to said punches toward and away from the associated dies in each set. 4

8. A nail head capping machine embodying therein a set of movable cap blank forming dies each having an open top cavity, to receive a mass of cap metal, a punch associated with each die to cooperate therewith in transforming the mass of cap metal therein into a cup-like cap blank having an open top annular wall portion and an end portion closed at least in part, a second set of movable dies each having an open top cavity to receive a formed blank, and each associated with a die in the first set, means for transferring the formed cap blank from the cavity of each forming die into operative position in the cavity in the associated die of the second set, means for .feeding a nail, point down, into the cavity of each die in the second set so that said nail is caused to pass through the end portion of the blank therein and engage the head of the nail with the end 1 portion of said blank, a punch associated with each die in the second set of dies for displacing the annular wall portion of the blank into enclosing engagement'with the other side of the nail head to enclose the same, and means for moving said punches toward and away from the associated dies in each set in timed relation to the movement of said sets of dies. I

9. A nail head capping machine embodying therein a die member having a cavity therein in which a mass of cap metal is formed into a cuplike cap blank having an annular wall portion and an end portion closed at least in part, means for ejecting a cap blank from said cavity, a second die member having a cavity therein adapted to receive said blank, means for moving the ejected blank into operative position in the cavity in said second die member, means for feeding a nail into said cavity of the second die member so as to dispose the head of the nail in the. blank contained therein so that one side of the head of the nail engages the end closure portion and the pe-" riphery of the nail head is surrounded by a part of said annular wall portion, and means coacting with said second die member for displacing the other part of said annular wall portion upon the other side of said nail head to form an enclosing cap thereon.

10. A nail head capping'machine embodying therein a die member having a cavity therein in which a mass of cap metal is formed into a cuplike cap blank having an annular wall portion and an end potion closed at least in part, means for ejecting a cap blank from said cavity, a second die member having a cavity therein adapted to receive said blank, means for moving the ejected blank into operative position in the cavity in said second die member, means for feeding a nail point first into the cavity of said second die member so as to cause said nail to pass through said end portion and which nail is thereafter moved into a position wherein the bottom side of the head of the nail engages said end portion and the periphery of said head is surrounded by a part of said annular wall portion, and means coacting with said die member for displacing the other part of said annular wall portion upon the top side of the nail head to form an enclosing cap thereon.

11. A nail head capping machine embodying therein a die member having an upwardly opening cavity therein in which a. mass of cap metal is formed .into a cup-like cap blank having an annular wall portion and an end portion closed at least in part, means associated with said die member and having a sliding engagement in the bottom portion thereof for ejecting the finished blank upwardly and out of the cavity therein, a second die member having an upwardly opening cavity therein adapted to receive said blank, means for moving the ejected blank into operative position in the cavity of the second die member, means for feeding a nail into the cavity of said second die member so as to dispose the head of the nail in the blank contained therein so that one side of the head of the nail engages the end closure portion and the periphery of the nail head is surrounded by a part of said annular wall portion, and means coacting with the second die member for displacing the other part of said annular wall portion upon the other side of said nail head to form an enclosing cap thereon.

12. A nail head capping machine embodying therein a die member having an upwardly opening cavity therein in which a mass of cap inetal is formed into a cup-like cap blank having an annular wall portion and an end portion closed at least in part, means associated with said die member and having a sliding engagement in the bottom portion thereof for ejecting the finished blank upwardly and out of the cavity therein, a second die member having an upwardly opening cavity therein adapted to receive said blank, means for moving the ejected blank into line with the cavity of the second die member, means for moving said blank downwardly into the cavity of said second die member so that the blank is deposited therein with its end closure engaged upon the bottom of said cavity, means for feeding a nail into the cavity of said second die member so as to dispose the head of the nail in the blank contained in said cavity so that one side of the head of the nail engages said end portion and the periphery of the nail head is surrounded by a part of said annular wall portion, and means coacting with the second die member for displacing the other part of said annular wall portion upon the other side of said nail head to form an. enclosing cap thereon.

13. In a nail head capping machine, a supporting means movable in a definite path, a row of dies in said support each having an open top cavity therein in which a mass of cap metal is formed into a cup-like blank for the cap of a nail head, means associated with each die and having sliding engagement in the bottom portion thereof for ejecting the blank upwardly and out of the cavity of said die member, a second row of dies on said support and'spaced laterally from the first row and each having an open top cavity therein to receive a blank, and means positioned adjacent said support and common to all the dies in both rows for actuating saidmeans having sliding engagement in the dies of the first mentioned row to eject the blanks therefrom and for transferring the ejected blanks from their position with respect to the dies in the first mentioned row to the cavities in the dies of the second mentioned row, as said dies pass said means in the movement of said support.

14. In a nail head capping machine, a supporting means movable in a definite path, a row of dies in said support each having an open top cavity therein in which a mass of cap metal is formed into a cup-like blank for the cap of a nail head, means associated with each die and having sliding engagement in the bottom portion thereof for ejecting the blank upwardly and out of the cavity of said die member, a second row of dies on said support and spaced laterally from the first row and each having an open top cavity therein to receive a blank, means positioned adjacent said support and common to all the dies in both rows for transferring blanks from the dies in the first mentioned row to those in the second mentioned row as said dies pass said means in the movement of said support, said means including parts for actuating said means having sliding engagement in the dies of the first mentioned row to eject the caps therefrom, and including other parts for transferring the ejected blanks into position above the cavities of the dies in the second mentioned row, along with means for tamping the transferred blanks into said cavities of the dies in the second mentioned row of dies.

15. In a nail head capping machine, die holding means movable in a definite path, a support for said die holding means, a row of dies in said means each having an open top cavity therein in which a mass of cap metal is formed into a cup-like blank for the cap of a nail head, an ejector pin having a sliding engagement in the bottom portion of each die for ejecting the blank upwardly and out of the cavity thereof, a second row of dies on said first mentioned means and spaced laterally from those in the first row and each having an open top cavity to receive a blank, a plunger in said support and registering with the ejector pin of each of the first mentioned dies, plunger actuating means also disposed in said support, means slidable on said support and including a part substantially surrounding the blank when ejected from its die in the first mentioned row, and means for actuating said plunger actuating means and said means for actuating said slidable means in timed relation for first ejecting a blank from a die in the first mentioned row and then for actuating said slidable means to transfer the ejected blank into a position in line with the cavity of a die in the second mentioned row of dies.

16. In a nail head capping machine, die holding means movable in a definite path, a support for said die holding means, a row of dies in said means each having an open top cavity therein in which a mass of cap metal is formed into a cup-like blank for the cap of a nail head, an ejector pin having a sliding engagement in the bottom portion of each die for ejecting the blank upwardly and out of the cavity thereof, a second row of dies on said first mentioned means and spaced laterally from those in the first row and each having an open top cavity to receive a blank, a plunger in said support and registering with the ejector pin of each of the first mentioned dies, plunger actuating means also disposed in said support, means slidable on said support, a spring-pressed shoe operatively carried by said last mentioned means and formed to substantially surround a blank when it is ejected from the die in the first mentioned row, and means for actuating said plunger actuating mechanism and said means for actuating said slidable means in timed relation for first ejecting a blank from its die in the first mentioned row and then for actuating said slidable means and its shoe to transfer the ejected blank into a position in line with the cavity of a die in the second mentioned row of dies.

17. A nail head capping machine, the combination of a support, a dial plate mounted thereon for step-by-step rotary motion, inner and outer annular rows of dies carried by said dial plate, the dies in one row of dies each having an open top cavity therein in which a mass of cap metal is formed into a cap blank having an annular side Wall and a bottom end closure, and the dies in the other row each having an open top cavity therein to receive a blank from an associated die in the first mentioned row, means located at one point on the support for feeding cap metal to the dies of the first row as they pass said point, means located at another point on the support for transferring the blank in the first mentioned row of dies to associated dies in the second row, means on the support for feeding a nail into operative position with respect to the blank transferred to the dies in the second row of dies, means at another point on said support for forming the metal in the dies in the first row into blanks and other means for forming the blanks into caps on the head of said nails in said dies in said second rows, and means for discharging the finished capped nails from said dies in said second row.

ROBERT B. DICKSON. 

